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Former Georgia Tech star Tillman set to graduate

ATLANTA - When former Georgia Tech star Travares Tillman returned to the classroom for the first time in nine years, he noted the environment had changed.

The classrooms were new. The professors interacted more. The students weren't taking notes by hand anymore.

"All the kids were on computers, which wasn't the case when I was in school," Tillman said. "It was kind of a shock to see all the computers going on."

Tillman managed to adapt. Just 14 years after enrolling at Georgia Tech, he will receive his management degree Saturday. Tillman, 33, returned to school in January after a seven-year NFL career as a safety. He will be the first in his immediate family to earn a college diploma.

"That was a goal I set for myself from the beginning," said Tillman, married with two children.

Tillman entered Georgia Tech in 1996 from Toombs County High in Swainsboro and played as a true freshman. He helped lead the Jackets to a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference title in 1998 and was a team captain with quarterback Joe Hamilton as a senior.

He was a second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2000 and played for three different teams. He saw the end coming in 2008, when he had an individual tryout with the Falcons. He was essentially told the team would contact him if his help was needed.

"When you get that conversation, you know it's not real good," Tillman said.

He took 2009 off to spend time with his family - wife Kiki, three-year-old son Atticus and one-year-old daughter Harper - and then went back to school full-time at the beginning of the year. He completed his graduation requirements this semester with a five-class load.

Tillman's final assignment at Georgia Tech was an online game in which he ran a simulated company in competition with students nationwide, allocating resources and setting prices. He turned to a former roommate and teammate, Troy Tolbert, for help.

"He said they didn't have anything like that when he graduated, so he was no help," Tillman said, laughing.

Rather, a handful of football players who shared classes with Tillman, particularly defensive tackle Logan Walls, helped the old man to the finish line.

Tillman was motivated to finish what he had begun and also to start his next career. Tillman wants to coach in college, for which he'll need a degree. He had tried his hand coaching at the youth level, but realized he couldn't really impart the knowledge acquired over a 74-game NFL career. He has been encouraged by former coaches to apply once he graduates.

Tillman and his wife aren't sure the itinerant life of a college coach is for him. But, degree in hand, he'll get to make the decision for himself.